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The committee appointed by the conference of Mayors of municipalities and presidents of shire councils, held recently to discuss the question of the distribution of war trophies, has recommended to the New South Wales State Trophy Committee a scheme of distribution, published herewith.

Of the 70 trophies allotted to Sydney one has been allocated to each municipality or shire and the remaining 17 have been recommended to be distributed to the Great Public and High Schools. Owing to the repeated refusals of the Lord Mayor and City Council to receive any of the guns, no provision has been made in the scheme for the city of Sydney.

All the councils and Schools concerned have been informed of the recommendations of the committee, and advised to make immediate representation to the New South Wales State Trophy Committee in Melbourne for the trophy to be forwarded.

LEICHHARDT. 77 mm field gun, captured by the 20th Battalion, A.I.F., during the advance near Framervllle, in France, early on the morning of 11 August 1918. The enemy attempt to remove the gun just as the fog lifted was checked by the battalion Lewis gunners promptly knocking out four of the six horses in the team.

Information in regard to this enquiry has been recieved from the Information Services department at the Australian War Memorial.

They advise the trustees to whom the gun was granted were the Mayor and Town Clerk of the Council of the Municipality of Leichhardt. The most recent correspondence on file is the record of the despatch of the trophy to Leichhardt in 1921.

If you have any information about the location of this memorial, please contact the Register.

Inscription

Erected by the citizens in grateful remembrance of the MEN of LEICHHARDT who gave their lives for God, King and Country in the Great War 1914 – 1919 'They died that we might be free' This 77mm Field Gun was captured by the 53rd Battalion A.I.F. during operations near Peronne in France on September 1st 1918, and it was for the conspicuous gallantry displayed in such capture that Pte. William Matthew Currey, of Leichhardt was awarded the VICTORIA CROSS. [NOTE: The gun is no longer at the park] Unveiled by His Excellency Sir Walter E. Davidson K.C.M.G. Governor of New South Wales 9th April 1922. James Gorman V.C. 5.11.1854 Battle of Inkerman.

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